56th annual Boy Scouts Jamboree in full force

The Portsmouth Radio Club hosted a special Amateur Radio Station for the Boy Scout Jamboree. The Jamboree was held Saturday at the Mound Park Shelter House from 1 to 5 p.m.

William Massie, a member of the Portsmouth Radio Club, said he would teach the Scouts different areas of Amateur Radio during the Jamboree.

According to Massie, all of the local Boy Scout Troops were invited to this year’s Jamboree.

“What we do is introduce Scouts to Amateur Radio and give them a chance to actually make on the air contacts, the Scouts direction-finding, Morse Code, and other facets of Amateur Radio,” Massie said.

Massie said annual event that has taken place each year for the past 56 years. It is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League.

The World Scout Bureau reported that the 2010 JOTA had just over 700,000 Scout participants from nearly 6,000 amateur radio stations.

This year in Portsmouth, The Portsmouth Radio Club will be operating using the club’s FCC call sign, N8QA.

Massie they were expecting at least 50 scouts to be in attendance.

Sean Little, age nine of Wevelos I Scout with Pack 21 in Wheelersburg, was the first Scout to arrive and participate in the Jamboree learning session. Dawn Little, the mother of Sean, and an assistant troop leader also attended the Jamboree.

“Mr. Massie came out and talked with our troop about Morse Code and Hamm operating, and the group loved it. When we found out the Jamboree would be going on we had to come,” Dawn Little said.

The Portsmouth Radio Club President Gary Caldwell said the Jamboree is a good for the troops.

“With the Jamboree it is possible that the Scouts here can communicate with other Scouts around the world. Amateur Radio is a great avenue for young people to gain an interest in. It is a positive thing to do, and keeps the kids out of trouble,” Caldwell said.

The event gives scouts a chance to actually talk with other scouts in the United States and around the world, as well as learn about amateur radio communications, getting their own license and working on their Communication merit badge.

For more information concerning this event, the ARRL has a page on their website www.arrl.org/jamboree-on-the-air-jota.

Portia Williams may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 286 or portiawilliams@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Portia on Twitter @PortiaWillPDT.